Geography

April 1, 2016

Gr 2-5-Gutman's familiar characters A.J. (Arlo) and Andrea are here to entertain and to inform young readers about geography and sports. Taking turns, A.J., the comedian, and Andrea, the straight man, relate odd and interesting tidbits. Geography includes chapters on the continents, water, and natural disasters with fun facts, such as that Antarctica is the world's largest desert, the Grand Canyon existed before the dinosaurs, and in 1928 a tornado pulled the feathers off of chickens. In Sports, which divides chapters according to individual pastimes, readers discover that a 14-year-old girl struck out Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, Tom Dempsey kicked a 63-yard field goal despite a disability, and Detroit Red Wings fans throw an octopus on the ice during playoff games. Gutman certainly knows his audience as the jokes, puns, and interactions between A.J. and Andrea are solid. Paillot's hilarious illustrations make both books even more engaging. VERDICT Gutman's witty presentation and comfortable, familiar characters will appeal to all, especially fans of the series.-Margaret Nunes, Gwinnett County Public Library, GA

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